Harpsden vs. Reading Lawyers 2nd June 2007

Harpsden
A. Imlay Bowled M.Burrows 0
D. Ord LBW Seymour 0
A. Bryan LBW Seymour 13
S. Imlay LBW Al. Davies 29
I. Whittaker Run Out 105
M. Shanahan c. Lynch b. Ash. Davies 3
M. Hodgkiss c. Symms b. Al. Davies 12
C. Whittaker Not Out 58
R. Birkett Not Out 25
Extras 4
Total for 7 wkts 249
Best bowling Al. Davies; 2 - 32, Seymour; 2 - 56

Reading Lawyers

M. Symms c. I. Whittaker b. Hodgkiss 0
J. Wood - Smith c. Bryan b. Hodgkiss 8
C. Lynch c. Hodgkiss b. Bryan 66
D. Loosemore ct. & b. Bryan 45
Ash. Davies b. Bryan 0
W. Baker LBW S. Imlay 12
M. Burrows c. C. Whittaker b. Bryan 4
Al. Davies b. I. Whittaker 3
N. Burrows c. S. Imlay b. Bryan 0
S. Clements Not Out 20
M. Seymour Not Out 11
Extras 37
Total for 9 wkts 206
Best Bowling Bryan 5 - 49, Hodgkiss 2 - 49

Whittakers pile on the runs for Harpsden

Reading Lawyers won a good toss and put Harpsden into bat on a wicket, and atmosphere, that was giving the bowlers some significant help. Harpsden lost their openers in the first two overs leaving them 0 for 2 and although Andy Bryan and Sam Imlay managed to stabilise things, they both departed to LBW decisions and Harpsden were soon back in trouble. Shanahan and Hodgkiss came and went pretty swiftly which left the batting side in the precarious position of 78 for 6. Cometh the hour, cometh the father and son combination of Ian and Christian Whittaker. Ian batted beautifully, putting away the bad balls for boundaries, defending the good balls, or playing them round the field for well run ones and twos whilst 15 year old Christian looked untroubled from the moment he came to the crease launching an array of trademark cover drives. Ian's knock of 105 was his first hundred since he was a 15 year old, some years ago, and included 13 fours and 2 sixes, and was undoubtedly a triumph of both skill and concentration. Ian's innings inevitably ended with a run out, as so often happens with father and son combinations. This brought Rod Birkett to the crease and with Christian they put on 51 in less than 15 minutes, declaring just moments before tea. Christian's 58 was his first of what will hopefully be many half centuries for Harpsden.
Despite the rather daunting target, and the loss of 2 early wickets to the steady bowling of Miles Hodgkiss, Reading Lawyers never lost faith in their ability to score at the required 6 runs an over. Lynch and Loosemore came together at 21, looking very much at ease and put on a swift 107 before Andy Bryan had Lynch caught for a very powerful 66. Ashley Davies proceeded to get a first baller from Bryan leaving Will Baker to safely defend the hatrick ball to deny Bryan him a second hatrick for Harpsden after one last season. The many bowling changes helped to confuse the batsmen and wickets fell steadily, and with great credit to the Lawyers, they didn't give up the chase until the 9th wicket had fallen. The final pair managed to hold on for the last 6 overs for a well deserved draw. The highlights of the Harspden display in the field was an outstanding piece of fielding on the boundary by Matt Shanahan, tight bowling by Ed Birkett in a high scoring game going for only 14 runs in his 6 overs, really good catches by Ian Whittaker and Sam Imlay and a tremendous, first ever, 5 wicket haul for spinner Andy Bryan.